Syracuse International Film Festival announces October programs

“We are very pleased that Le Moyne College has chosen to sponsor our signature New Jazz-Classic Film program,” says Owen Shapiro, festival artistic director. “The Jazz/Film event is unique each year, with a silent film accompanied by new music created and performed by some of the top jazz musicians in the country.” On Friday, Oct. 15, national recording artist Javon Jackson will bring his musicians to the stage of The Palace Theatre, 2384 James St., Syracuse, to play during Alfred Hitchcock’s classic “The Lodger.” The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the event ($20 for the general public; $15 for seniors/Le Moyne faculty and staff; $10 for students) can be purchased at the door.

In addition to the Friday event, the festival week will open on Wednesday, Oct. 13, with Vincent Pastore. Best known for his role in the Emmy Award-winning HBO series “The Sopranos,” Pastore appeared recently in the film “Pizza With Bullets,” which will be shown at 8:15 p.m. at the Palace Theatre. Tickets ($15 for the general public; $12 for seniors and students) will be available at the door.

And for those who enjoy comedy, Pastore will perform at Wise Guys Comedy Club, 201 S. Salina St., earlier that night, beginning at 5:45 p.m. After cocktails and a meet-and-greet opportunity, Pastore will take the stage to “tell some jokes and do some skits and trivia—the same thing I do in Reno, Atlantic City, all over,” he says. Tickets for the comedy club appearance are by reservation and are $65; to reserve, call (315) 469-8917. The schedule has been planned to accommodate those who want to go to the comedy club and the film (both for $75).

On Thursday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, the festival will present the first public screening of the new film “Session,” starring Israeli actress and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Bar Refaeli. “Session” was shot in Syracuse and includes several local actors in supporting roles. Stephen Bauer (“Scarface”) and Tom Bower (“Appaloosa,” “Pollock”) also star. Israeli film director Haim Bouzaglo completed the film while he was teaching at Syracuse University. Tickets ($15 for the general public; $12 for seniors and students) are available at the door.

On Saturday, legendary independent filmmaker/director Robert M. Young will receive SYRFILMFEST’s Sophia Achievement Award, designed by Peter Wayne Yenawine, a crystal artist who has designed for Steuben Glass and others. Following the awards, Young’s film “Human Error” will be screened along with an episode of “Battlestar Galactica,” the long-running TV series directed frequently by Young. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Palace Theatre; the $15 ticket includes both programs. Special guests for the program include actors Tom Bower and Robert Knott.

Sunday’s program, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, will feature renowned actor Ed Harris in his recent film “Touching Home,” written by and starring Logan and Noah Miller, who will also attend the screening. The story focuses on twin brothers and their efforts to become professional baseball players. Harris plays their alcoholic father. Following “Touching Home,” Harris will show a new print of his critically acclaimed film “Pollock.” Tickets are $8 for each film or $15 for both.

The competitive screenings of SYRFILMFEST are also scheduled for Wednesday-Sunday, Oct. 13-17. A separate listing of times and film titles will be published at the end of September. Check the SYRFILMFEST website (http://www.syrfilm.com) for information and updates or call the festival office at (315) 443-8826.

An All Movie pass is available for $125 (and includes one special event of the pass owner’s choice), or a Full Festival Pass, which includes admission to all festival movies and special events, is available for $165 each or two for $325.